Santa’s Delay: Flight Diverted,
A Belated Arrival Now Expected
by David Bell | December 26, 2018
Santa can’t possibly arrive til the eve of December 30th, 2018. At the earliest. This has thrown the civilized world — Chief’s Kingdom — into pandemonium as they have witnessed another west coast debacle, this time at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks. It was not an intentional diverted flight for Santa… his detour included a stop at the City of “Lost” Angeles, or maybe it’s the city of 2 teams playing in the same venue. Oh well. Some recuperation time is expected for Santa and then he will depart and be arriving on the eve of December 30th. Tough luck, all the way around. Oh, the poor dears. The sullen looks, the gnashing of teeth. I know you can stick a thumb in that pie and it won’t come out with a plumb — yet.
The poor fans in KC had to awaken with no AFC West title wrapped up, no Bye secured with ribbon and no AFC #1 Cede in a Christmas bag. Santa unfortunately, was not using Rudolph to guide the way.
What is also odd is that the Chiefs have lost 4 games by a total of 11 points. Not only that but each loss occurred in the waning moments of all 4 games. All four games occurred with their defense on the field unable to hold a lead or tie. No one is surprised that I have written about defense on a large number of weeks this season. With a high degree of critical appraisal.
Hopefully, the fans won’t need wait til December… 2019… to see the Chiefs win the division a 3rd time in 4 seasons. Hopefully. Let’s be fair here, in this delayed arrival land of this so called Mr. Claus, who might or might not have reindeer, a sled and a red-nosed team leader pointing the way into the foggy areas — well, let’s hope that is not the fog on San Francisco Bay. It was bad enough up in Seattle and losing by 7.
It’s true, wishes come true in the yule moments of the year. It was at least a moment the Seahawk fans could cheer. They won a hard fought game with a couple of highlight moments and they secured their own playoff spot. The Hawks were playing at home and the Chiefs on the road, 2 hours time difference in a hostile environment much akin to other teams trying to get a win at Kansas City. That is a tough proposition all the way round.
Meanwhile, the much criticized defense, with a much criticized defensive Coordinator, and now, a much criticized group of players with a much criticized defensive coaching staff, could not manage a stop in a game when all the marbles were on the line. A game when Safety Eric Berry did play but wasn’t on the field at the last moments. Nor was other respectable defensive back, Kendall Fuller, who was declared inactive for the game.
Instead, the Chiefs went with a rookie UDFA that they acquired from the Cowboys for an offensive lineman. That player, Charvarius Ward, had seen no action as a corner but was tasked with the mission that the Chiefs internally knew would occur all week long — Ward practiced all week as the starter. Rookie Tremon Smith also saw action getting game time snaps aside from special teams and neither excelled, as both had suspect moments. Ward was challenged by Seahawk QB Russell Wilson, early and often. Ward had plays that were not made, penalties that were called on him, although he had successes as well. That is a tough proposition to throw two young members of the secondary into the fray and not expect problems. Those problems occurred and the Chiefs gave up 38 points while scoring only 31.
No, the offense was not up to it’s high scoring best but look: they lost a games where they scored 40, 51, 29 and 31. Let that sink in. All of those losses were by points scored that would have been considered well above average for any team in the NFL… for the most part. That is not shabby offensive production. It was just not enough points to win those particular games. Those losses occurred versus the Patriots, Rams, Chargers and now Seahawks. Keep in mind, the Chiefs were held under 30 on three other occasions and came away with wins.
These remarks were made in “fairness.” Anyone who has read the many articles here at ArrowheadOne knows that most felt that it was a two year re-tool. You cannot consider 2018 to be a rebuilding year — and still have the team win 12 games.
That’s is where fanatics come from: unreasonable expectations. I have had them and I have witnessed the opinions of many other “fans” elsewhere as well. I see no reason to expect the Chiefs to lose this weekend. I see no reason to think the game will be a cakewalk either. It will be just up the Raider’s alley to try to come to town and knock the Chiefs down a notch further.
So here we wait for a December 30th arrival of a sleigh with bells, and reindeer and a fat Santa who should deliver a finale to remember on the next to the last day of 2018. I’m not going to harbor resentment and anger over the Christmas Holiday. I am going to watch the this weekend’s game and have fun. I am going to witness the Chiefs lock things up when Santa arrives.
On the Eve of a delayed Christmas Santa.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne
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